Alone

Chapter 2

"LUCY"
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU"
" GET HERE RIGHT NOW!"

I jolted awake in a panic. What had I forgotten now? I grabbed my glasses that had fallen on the floor and hastily put them on. A quick glance at the time told me I was in trouble. Big trouble. It was 6pm, I'd been asleep for 3 hours! Oh no I thought. I jumped of the bed and raced downstairs as quietly as a I could. He had a face like thunder and I was terrified like always. I approached my dad cautiously, any look of confidence would be knocked out of me; not that I had any!

He waited for me to reach him, I wanted to stop in the doorway but I knew if I wasn't within an arms length I would suffer more. I glanced at his face then back down to the floor bracing myself for the force that would hit me. If I fell down the first time he would kick me. If I didn't fall down he would hit me again. It was the same every time. I winced as I felt the blow connect with my side making my ribs ache. After the second, lower down on my side, I collapsed as the blow took my breath from me. I didn't cry. I waited. I saw his feet move closer to me and his hand reach down. Grabbing a hold of it he pulled me back up whist I continued to stare at the floor. My dad walked away from me knowing that I would have his dinner ready soon so I didn't feel that again. For now.

I grabbed some potatoes and started peeling them. STUPID GIRL. You are so stupid! When will you learn! I continued to berate myself. No wonder they treat you like this, you deserve it stupid little girl. This was how my mind worked constantly, I must deserve this.

After serving dinner for him (my dad) and kris (my brother) I cleaned up the kitchen. I had grown accustomed to cleaning as it kept my mind busy. I peered in the living room and saw they were busy drinking and shouting at the TV so I went back to bed. I was exhausted. My stomach gurgled loudly and I sighed. I couldn't get anything now they were back, I'd managed to eat 2 slices of toast earlier in the hope they wouldn't notice. I turned onto my stomach and shut my eyes tightly trying to sleep but it wouldn't come to me. I sat up and groaned. I pulled my long brown hair out of its bobble and rubbed my head. As I lifted up my arm I winced in pain and remembered the beating earlier. I often forgot because it happened everyday, so I learned to block it out. I tiptoed over to the mirror trying not to hit a creaky floorboard and lifted up my top. I could see the large ugly bruise starting to form, it's edges touching a scar below it and a slightly older yellow bruise above it. They were always careful where they hurt me, so that no one would know. I pulled my shirt down roughly feeling frustrated with myself. I had school tomorrow and I couldn't decide which was more torturous.

I crawled into my bed and closed my eyes. Sleep soon came to me and I happily drifted into the darkness.